Beyond the Gift Wrap

It’s not ideal to have a fight with your wife while on an exotic Mexican vacation, but the alignment of the stars occasionally makes some spats inevitable. I can’t tell you now what we were arguing about. It was insignificant, yet there we were, on a pristine beach, on a pristine day, and lying on a pristine lounge chair, was my very annoyed wife.

I’m not sure how the idea came to me. Maybe the inspiration spawned from the combination of the intensely warming sun, the clear sky, or the calming serenity of the endless blue ocean, but I remembered passing little huts with little Mexican people selling their wares, and I knew what I had to do.

As my wife dozed off to the sound of mariachi guitars and the rumble of distant jet ski engines, I took a stroll to check out the huts. This particular section of Mexico is known for its silver jewelry. In shop after shop, there were endless rows of handcrafted silver and each shop seemed to be successful. The hut that ultimately captured my attention was small, on the end of the strip, and appeared unspoiled by commercialism.

The specialty of the shop was silver jewelry with different colorful stones and gems. I browsed the shelves, then the shop owner helped me narrow down and finally select the perfect piece. Then he did the best he could to make it gift- worthy presentable.

I returned to the lounges, little baggy in tote, and found my wife on a lounge, lying on her back wearing her big straw hat. She was still dozing, so I placed the bag beside her and waited for her to come to. I wanted it to be the first thing that she saw when she awoke, and it was executed flawlessly. Without saying a word, she looked at the bag, looked at me, and began to unravel the makeshift gift wrap. She had that look in her eyes that we all get in these situations. It was a combination of puzzlement and anticipation. We had this look when we were children, and we never seem to outgrow it.

She let the necklace hang off of her finger and inspected the abstract heart pendant hanging below, made of silver, and a lustrous white marble-like stone. I can’t recall its name, yet it seemed so important then. She asked me to put it on her, and that’s when I knew that our quarrel was over.

Thoughtful gifts run well beyond the gift wrap. Sometimes the timing, the lack of occasion, or the mere thought of you going out of your way to bring a smile to someone’s face, is a bigger gift than the object itself. Although I have had taxi fares that cost more than this little gift, it will always have a special place in her heart.

When I see her still wearing it now, years later, I always think of her forgiveness. I hope it conjures up for her the same fond memories of that blissful day on the beach, as it does for me.

Brian Marcus is a community member who likes to write.